Process and tool for surfacing blanket cylinders



April 1930- A. E. CILLEY 1,752,940

PROCESS AND TOOL FOR SURPACING BLANKET CYLINDERS Filed July 3, 1928 Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNI ED STATES ALBERT E. CILLEY, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS PROCESS :AND TOOL FOR SURFACING BLANKET CYLINDERS Application filed J'u1y 3, 1928. Serial No. 290,131.

This invention relates to the surfacing of blanket cylinders or rolls used in printing presses. In one aspect, it consists in a novel process of surfacing such rolls and in another 5 aspect it consists in a new and improved tool for carrying out the process.

The blanket cylinder in a printing press is disposed opposite to and in cooperative relation with the plate cylinder which carries 1o cylindrical plates of type upon its surface. The paper being printed is passed between the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder, the latter forming a yielding backing for the paper so that a clear impression is made thereon by the type. Blanket cylinders or rolls are usually built up upon a steel core of closely woven woolen fabric with an outer layer of virgin wool and a skin of flexible pyroxylin or rubberized compound. e

The type plates on the plate cylinder are usually spaced from each other longitudinally of the-cylinder about 1" apart; The cylinders roll upon each other under considerable pressure and after a period of con- 25 tinuous use, the blanket cylinder takes the impression of the typeplates so that ribs, called bolsters, are formed opposite to the spaces between the type plates. If type plates of the same width were always used, this would not be objectionable but it frequently happens that it is desirable to set up a type plate of double width, or a double-truck plate as it is called, in order to print a double page impression. Under these circumstances, the ribs or bolsters formed in the blanket plate produce an excessive pressure'upon the portion of the double-truck plate located opposite to them, so much so that it tends to cut the paper and make an uneven impressionin the sheet. Prior'to my invention, it was the practice to surface blanket rolls and remove the ribs by burning and ironing the rib portion with'a solderingiron or similar tool, or in some cases the'rib has been reduced by a knife or chisel but always under uncertain conditions requiring, special skill in the operator and involving a long and arduous operation.

My object aims to improve these conditions and to provide first, a new process of surfac- PATENT OFFICE 1 ing blanket rolls in an improved manner and,

second, a toolby which the process maybe successfully carried out I have discovered that the bolster of a blanket roll may. be removed in its entirety and the process of 7 my invention is characterized by cutting two clean circumferential lines through the skin of the blanket roll and into the wool beneath it, removing completely the skin between the two lines anda portion of the wool adjacent thereto, so as to form a definite, clean-edged zone where the bolster was formerly located. This method may be carried out by hand-or by a power-driven tool and the bounding lines of the 'cut-outzone may be formed singly or simultaneously; also the intermediate portion may be removed after the bounding lines have been formed, or at the same time. I prefer, however, to carry out the various steps of a the process substantially simultaneouslyand, accordingly, my invention in one of its aspects consists in the process of surfacing ribbed rolls which is characterized by simultaneously defining a circumferential zone coinciding substantially with the rib and progressively removing the surface material in the defined zone.

The best means known to me for carrying into 'efiect the process of my invention consists in a tool having a power-driven'cutter and a guide member or shoe curved to fit the contour of the roll to be operated upon and serving to locate the cutter with reference to the roll. As herein shown, two such shoes are employed and thecutteris located between them. In this way, the cutter 'is positioned correctly with respect to' the curved surface of the particular roll being operated upon and the trimming operation is effected with reference to the identical surface contour being treated.

Another feature of the invention consists in guiding means in the tool arranged to act in cooperation with the rib or bolster to be trimmed so as to position the tool as awhole upon the rib or so that the pathof the driven cutter upon the surface of the moving roll coincides with the rib. The invention includes as a further feature a follower located behind the cutter for positioning the tool by the cut-out track left in the surface of the work by the cutter. Usually, it is convenient to place the tool upon the surface of the roll and'hold the tool stationary while the roll, inthe press, is slowly turned beneath it. The path of the cutter upon the roll isin the latter case, accordingly, produced by the movement of the roll although the guiding and positioning function is the same whichever of the two elements is actually moved. 1 R i As herein shown, the cutter is arranged to rotate about an axis normalto the surface of the roll and is driven by a verticalmotor, al-

though the shape of the cutter andthc dis position of the motor are not essential; j The cutter-herein shown isarranged for adjust- .ing movement toward and fromthe surface of the roll under manual control and this "constitutes another featureof the invention which may be realized in various mechanical forms. Preferably also, an adjustable'stop is provided forlimiting the downward movementofthe cutter so that the depth of the cut "or track made by it may be accurately and positively determined. .1 Other features of theinvention consists in the provision ofhandles for manipulating the tooland placing it upon the" roll, and in the provision of convenient grinding; mechanism included as apart of the construction and serving. as a convenientmeans for resharpenmg the cutter. .moreover, Wlll be found in-the cutter which 1 Some elements] ofv novelty,

have disclosed in connection withthe tool and which comprises a toothed rotary cutter,1concave in its general shape and dished in i the surfacewhich is disposed toward the roll. 1

'These and other featuresof the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred em.- bodiment of the tool, together withthe description of the manner of its use in carrying .out theprocess of my invention. In the accompanying drawings, i i

1 Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing a portion of a blanket cylinder with the bolster cutting tool in position upon it; i

Fig. 2 is a central sectional viewthrough the tool and a portion of the blanket roll;

Fig. 3 isa view inlongitudinal section on the line 33 ofFig.1;

a therefore, has a tough and fairly hard skin which is backed up solidly but yieldingly by the textile fabric beneath it. As already explained, the blanket roll cooperates with the type plate roll, the two being pressed together and rotated with the paper to be printed running between them. The rib or bolster 18 shown in Fig. 1 is formed in the blanket cylinder in the space between adjoining type plates as a result of continuous operation for a considerable time. It is caused by the action a to tha't'part of the-cylinder not subjected to pressure in gradually bulging outwardly. It will be apparent that if a double-truck type plate is to be used which will bridge that por tion of the blanket roll in which the rib 18 occurs, the latter must'be smoothed or removed, or else the pressure of the two rolls will be localized within the area of the rib, with undesirable results. i u

i I have discovered that the material of the rib or bolster 18 may be entirely removed from the blanket roll even to the extent of leaving a shallow channel in place of the bolster and that a blanket cylinder so surfaced may be used with entire and complete satisfaction in cooperation with a doubletruck type plate. To effect this result, I have evolved a method characterized by first markingor scoring upon the skin of the blanket roll the portion to be removed, thus defining and limiting the ensuing and dependent steps of the process. This step may be carried out bysharp-edged scoring. rolls and these constitute anjelementof the tool which will prescntly be described.

1 In practicing the process of my invention, the material" between the two marks thus formed isthen removed by any suitable form of cutter which will cleanly cut the skin of the blanket roll, leaving a circumferential zone, with clean-cut edges. Preferably and inmost cases, a small portion of the wool layer 14 beneath the skin 18 will also be removed. I have found it possible to use a toothed rotarycufler of such design as to cutthrough the skin of the cylinder roll, removing the skin and also a portion of the woollayer simultaneously. The Steps above set fortlrmay be carried out progressively to good advantage and, as herein shown, the blanket roll is slowly rotated beneath the scoring rolls and a driven cutter so that the bolster 18 is progressively removed and in its place a shallow circumferential channel is produced in the cylinder.

'Referring now to the construction of the toolwhich I prefer to employ in practicing my process: This comprises a frame 20 having parallel side walls to which are secured contact shoes 22 and 24 having a curvature corresponding to the cylindrical curvature of the cylinder to be'operated upon. As blanket cylinders vary somewhat in diameter, the contact shoes 22 and 24 are arranged in pairs, pivotally connected to theside Walls of the toward each other.

frame 20 so' that they may beadjusted to acpermit adjustment of the contact shoes and then tightened in adjusted position. Each pair of contact shoes-is connected by a stationary cross shaft 28 having a pair of antifriction rolls 30 which project slightly below the lower edge of the contactshoes 22 and 24 and run upon the surface o-fthe blanket roll.

IThesealso permit the adjustment for different diameters of roll, as they constitute the efiective contact points of the'whole assembly. lvlt-hin the anti-friction rolls 30 upon each shaft 28 is located apair of-loose sleeves 32 or spacers which serve to locate .a roll 34 on the forward shaft 28 and arroll 36 on the rear shaft. The roll 34 has two sharp-edged fianges,.the innerv surfaces of. which .taper This serves the double function of locating the tool centrally with respect to the bolster 18 and of scoring. the skin surface of the blanket roll to define'the area to be removed. Theroll36, on the other hand, has flanges with surfaces which taper outwardly and thus acts to locate the rear portion of the tool-with reference to the shallow channel formed in removing the bolster 18.

Secured to the frame v20 is the casing 40 of a vertical motor, ha-vlng a driven shaft 42 which carries a toothed cutter 44 having teeth with sharp radially disposed cutting edges and'being dished upon the surface disposed toward the blanket cylinder. 7 The cutter is carried by a sleeve 46 which fits over the shouldered lower end of the motor shaft 42 and has parallel slots in its upper end to receive a cross pin 48 inthe end of the motor shaft. The sleeve 46 with the cutter 44 is free for limited sliding movement. upon the motor shaft 42 having, in eflect, a spline connection therewith and heingmaintained normally in its upper or inoperative position in which it is outof contact with thebolsterf18.

Thesleeve 46 is surrounded by another sleeve 50 Whichis free to slide verticallyin bearings 52 formed in the} web orbridge54 of the-frame 20 and has a flange at its upper end which is received between the forks: of a shifting lever 56, pivotally mounted between ears 58 on the web 54 and formedlas a finger piece 60 at its outer end. A' ring 64, secured to'the inner sleeve 46, prevents that from dropping out of engagement with the motor shaft 42. Y A

Handles and 72 project from opposite sides of the frame :20. The handle 70 on the right side of the tool, as shown in Fig. 2,

is slotted to receive t-hejouter end. of the unnecessary to describe the detailsthereof further than to say that lead wires are brought to it throughthe left handle '7 2 and that current is controlled through a Snap switch 7 6, located inthe handle 7 2. Abracket 82 issecuredto the motor frame and carries a small lamp "84 which ,is disposed beneath the overhanging portion of the, frame 20 and in position to illuminate theportion of the blanket cylinder to be operated upon.

The upper end of the motor shaft is provided with a vertical grindingwheelQO which is surrounded by a casing 92 formedon the upper head of the motor. A b-racket94 secured to or forming a part of the headcarries a radially movable spindle96, having a screw-threaded innerendupon which a cutter may be temporarily mounted for the. purpose of grinding its end surface and forming the spherically concaved or dished contour desired. u l

Itwill be seen that I have produced a. selfcontained integral tool including the I scoring and locating rolls, the driven cutter and the handles 70 and 72 for moving and placing the tool as a whole. In carrying out the process of my invention, the tool is located upon the surface of the blanket roll. while the latter occupies its usual position in the printing press. As already stated, the tool is located with reference to the bolster 18 by the tapering flanges of the roller 34. Thecutter is set in motion by tripping the switch 76 and the blanket roll is turned slowly inthe direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1-.- The-operator then depresses the finger piece 60 of the shifting lever 56, moving the cutter 44 downwardly, whereupon it cuts its way through the skin of the blanket roll and into the bolster 18. The ultimate cutting'position of the cutter 44 is determined by the adjustable. stop 74, as alturn until a completecircumferential zone has been cut out from the skin of the roll and a very shallow channel produced in the surface thereof, as indicated in the rear side of the roll in Fig. 1. When the cylinder has made one complete revolution with the cutter in its operative position, the finger piece60 is released, whereupon the cutter moves into inoperative position and the motor is stopped by throwing the switch 76. The operation of surfacing the roll is thereupon complete and the printing operation may be resumed with- .out further delay. It will be understood that a cutter may be ground upon the spindle 96 at anytime whether the tool is in position uponablanket cylinder or not. i i

' Having thus described my invention, what Ijclirim asnew'and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1;;A bolster cutting tool comprising a drivencutter, spaced shoes disposed on either side ofthe cutter, curved to fit the contour of the rollto' be operated upon, and serving to locate the cutter with reference to the surface thereof, and means disposed between said shoes for positioning the tool as a whole with reference to abolster in the roll.

2. A bolster cutting tool comprising a ;driven cutter, a frame carrying said cutter and fhaving anti-friction rolls, which, to-

getherwith the cutter, are disposed substantially upon an arc corresponding to the curvature of the roll to be operated upon, and

means disposed in substantial circumferenframe carrying saidcutter and having antifriction rolls, which, together with the cutter, are disposed substantially in a cylindrical surface corresponding to the curvature of the roll to be operated upon, and means disposed at the leadingend of the tool for positioning the same with respect to a bolster in the roll.

aaA bolster cutting tool comprising a driven cutter with an end cutting face, a

frame carrying said cutter and shaped to locate it with its axis normal to the cylindrical surface of the moving roll to be operated upon,and means in the frame for positioning the tool as a whole in a circumferential path with respect to the roll.

5. A tool for trimming a ribbed roll, comprising a driven cutter, and a frame carrying said cutter and having means for locating the tool upon the cylindrical surface of the moving roll to be operated upon, andmeans in the frame acting upon the rib to position the tool as a whole in apath coinciding with the rib.

A tool for trimming a ribbed roll, comprising a driven cutter, and a frame carrying said cutter and havingspaced gauge rolls for engaging the rib and positioning the tool as a whole with respect thereto.

7, A tool for trimming a ribbed roll, comprising a frame shaped to fit the cylindrical surface of the roll, a driven cutter carried thereby, spaced guide members in the forward portion of the frame for positioning the tool upon the rib, and a follower in the rear portionof the frame for positioning the tool by the cut-out track left in the rollby the cutter.

8. A tool for surfacing a ribbed blanket roll,comprising a frame shaped to fit the cyroll, a toothed cutter, and means for mountmg said cutter with its axis normal to the roll i contour,said mounting means being movably engageable with the roll to travel the cutter thereabout.

11. A tool for surfacing a ribbed roll, comprising a frame with curved locating surfaces, a driven cutter mounted in the frame, means for maintaining the frame in positionto straddle the rib of the roll, and manually controlled means for moving the cutter toward or from the plane of the locating surfaces.

12. Atool for surfacing a ribbed roll, comprising a frame with curved locating surfaces, amotor driven cutter disposed to rotate about an axis normal to the curvature of the plane of said locating surfaces and being yieldingly maintained in an elevated position, manually controlled means for moving the cutter downwardly, and an adjustable stop for limiting such movement.

13. A portable tool for surfacing a ribbed blanket roll, comprising a frame having curved contact pieces, a vertical motor mounted in the frame having a driven outter splinedto the lower end of its shaft and a grinder mounted on the upper end thereof, and handles projecting from the sides of the frame, one carrying a switch for the motor and the other carrying an adjusting device for the cutter.

'14:. A tool for surfacing a ribbed cylinder, 7

diameters, and rib engaging guides carried by said contact pieces.

15. A tool for surfacing a cylinder, comprising a frame, a motor driven cutter carried thereby, and sharp-edged scoring rolls located in advance of the cutter for marking on the surface of the cylinder the portion of its surface to be removed by the cutter.

16. The process of surfacing blanket cylinders having bolsters therein which consists in cutting through the skin of the cylinder in circumferential lines at each side of the bolster and removing the skin between said linestogether with a portion of the material beneath the skin.

17. The process of surfacing blanket cylinders having bolsters therein which consists in rotating the cylinder slowly, progressively cutting through the skin of the cylinder in parallel lines and simultaneously removing the skin between said lines.

18. The process of removing bolsters from edged zone with its surface depressed below that of the cylinder. a ALBERT E. CILLEY.v

CERTIFICATE OF GQRRECTION.

Patent No. 1,752,940. Granted April 1, 1930, to

ALBERT E. GILLEY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring cerrection as follows: Page 4, line 78. claim 10, after the word "cutter" insert the words "dished in its end surface"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of May. A. D. 1939.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

